Chemo therapy vs Hormones

[sumanb]

I am scheduled for a Mast on the 4/10. I have come accept this as my tumor is 3.5CM plus there are smaller lumps around ( 2mm and 1.5 CM) The smaller ones were detected later by an MRI hence no biopsy on these. I was told once that since I am highly ER/PR + and HER2 -ve I can be treated with Hormones alone. Now my Med onc is saying I should go for Chemo and then on Hormone treatment. I seem to have difficulty accepting it. I do not have my Onc score yet as my surgeon is saying she will do a node biopsy at the time of MAST... She can request the DX test only if I am node negative. I would like to hear from everyone, especially those who have been treated with Hormones only. I take my hats off for those who have endured 16 weeks of chemo.

Also I am always interested in finding out the mind/ body connection. No one seems to talk about it. Last few years have been extremely stressfull for me. I saw my mother suffer (no BC just old age) for two years before her passing. I worry about things that are beyond my control. Have others (diagnosed with cancer) seen this relation? Is there any statistic  about this such as what percentage of women  have gone throgh Significant emotional events such as divorce, loss of a loved one, problems in their children's life financial worried,etc before they were diagnosed?

Thanks to all sharing and caring individulas and good luck to all of us.

[lizziecee]

Yes, I agree that stress very likely plays a part in any kind of cancer.
My twin brother was dx with a brain tumour, which was inoperable, as it was "wrapped all around his brain" as the surgeon said, and died within 11 months of dx at age 50.We believe it was due to his some 15 yrs of being an electronics engineer with mobile phone technology. The jury is still out on that question.  I helped nurse him through the final 3 months and I think the trauma of losing him contributed to my own dx of bc.

I am now part of the "million women study" that the Cancer Research Institute in England are doing - we don't get any feedback, but complete a questionnaire every year, and give samples of blood. They do ask us for some quite private information as to our family and lifestyle, but the research results will be statistical and are anonymous. I feel very strongly about my participation in this study, as not only do I have breast cancer, but my brother and father both died of different cancers - father of bowel cancer.

On a related subject - stress - when I was dx with bc in 2003, I was going through a flare with my Crohn's disease, and within 4 days I got steroid induced psychosis, which is very rare (I had been on this drug for some 30 yrs and never had a mental problem). My gastro said it was the stress of being dx with cancer that "tipped me over the edge" - so at least one doctor recognises the relationship of stress induced illness, but he has had little experience in dealing with cancer. He is unusual - and brilliant - worked in a leper colony in Africa and as a phsyician with AIDS patients in London before deciding gastroenterology was an exciting field  - well, whatever turns you on!

As for your query as to chemo vs hormone only therapy, I would strongly advise you to have chemo and radiotherapy.  I had a 2cm invasive ductal tumour, with associated DCIS, comedo and cribiform, and 4 out of 18 nodes positive. There was absolutely no question that I was strongly advised to have chemo and radiation therapy, which I had. The protocol at my Breast Care Centre of Excellence is: if the invasive tumour is 2 cm or more, chemo will always be highly recommended and rads.  I was ER+ (PR not done) and HER2-.  My Oncologist said this is a good prognosis. I now take Arimidex hormone therapy daily, and 4 yrs later, feeling good, with no recurrence and no metastases. By the way, I was offered, at initial diagnosis, before the wide local excision and sample node removal, that I could have opted for a mastectomy. In hindsight I made the right decision, as I still have my breast and it is not at all mutilated - I had a great surgeon. I know it is late in the day for me to write this, but you still should have the option of a WLE and sentinel node biopsy, before taking the unalterable decision of losing your breast. I obviously don't know your particular situation, but I would ask about these options. I figured, as my husband did, that I could always go back for a mastectomy, if required. My bc surgeon was happy with my decision. As well he should be - but it is so difficult to know what to do when you are so stressed out.

I hope everything turns out okay for you. Please update us.
Kind regards, Liz

[dalip]

So sorry to hear about your bc.In answer to your question.Yes i cared for my mother when she died from ov/c.3years later i was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had to have a hysterectomy at 26.So i feel stress plays a big part.My belief is that we all have cancer cells in our body but some outside or inside influence alters our capabilities to fight it.
Good luck and i hope you win your fight against this awful disease.Dawn my prayers are with you.